Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Zingiber

Zingiber officinale

Zingiber (Zingiber officinale) is a plant used in Ayurveda. 6-Shogaol (dehydrated product of gingerol, predominant in dry ginger/Shunthi) has better bioavailability (~40-50%) and 2-3x greater biological potency. Zerumbone has low bioavailability (<15%) improved by SEDDS.

Key facts
Botanical nameZingiber officinale
FamilyZingiberaceae · other entries in this family
OrderZingiberales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2757280 · NCBI Taxonomy 94328

This entry and ginger describe the same drug, Zingiber officinale, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use; the other is treated as the primary record for citation.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishZingiber

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)KatuPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Laghu, TikshnaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)UshnaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)MadhuraPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (Shunthi/dry ginger powder), Svarasa (fresh ginger juice), Capsule, Tablet, Softgel (CO2 extract), Kwatha (decoction), Essential oil, Tincture, Crystallized/preserved ginger, Syrup, Paste

Standard Dosage: 1-3 g dry ginger powder twice daily; 5-10 mL fresh juice with honey; 250-500 mg standardized extract capsule twice daily; 1-2 g fresh ginger as food

Bioavailability: 6-Gingerol (fresh ginger) has moderate oral bioavailability (~30-40%) limited by rapid hepatic glucuronidation and sulfation. 6-Shogaol (dehydrated product of gingerol, predominant in dry ginger/Shunthi) has better bioavailability (~40-50%) and 2-3x greater biological potency. Zerumbone has low bioavailability (<15%) improved by SEDDS. Essential oil components (zingiberene, beta-sesquiphellandrene) are rapidly absorbed but extensively metabolized. Fresh vs. dry ginger have distinct pharmacological profiles: fresh ginger is richer in gingerols (anti-emetic, GI motility) while dry ginger (Shunthi) is richer in shogaols (anti-inflammatory, analgesic). Piperine co-administration enhances gingerol bioavailability by ~1.5-fold.

Optimal Timing: Before meals for digestive stimulation and anti-emetic effect; with meals for carminative action; morning with warm water for metabolism activation; 30-60 minutes before travel for motion sickness

Standardized Extract: Oleoresin (CO2 extract): >25% total gingerols (6-gingerol + 8-gingerol + 10-gingerol) by HPLC; dry ginger extract: >5% total shogaols; essential oil: >25% zingiberene by GC-FID; fresh ginger extract: 6-gingerol/6-shogaol ratio >5:1

Shelf Life: Fresh rhizome: 2-3 weeks refrigerated; Dry ginger (Shunthi): 24-36 months; Powder: 18-24 months; Oleoresin: 24-36 months; Essential oil: 24-36 months; Capsules: 24-36 months; Tincture: 48 months

Storage: Fresh ginger at 12-14 deg C, 65% RH (not below 10 deg C to avoid chilling injury). Dry ginger in airtight, moisture-proof containers at 15-25 deg C. Oleoresin and essential oil in amber glass, tightly sealed, at 15-25 deg C. Protect from light and heat.

Marker Compounds: 6-Gingerol, 8-Gingerol, 10-Gingerol, 6-Shogaol, 8-Shogaol, 10-Shogaol, Zingerone, Zingiberene, beta-Sesquiphellandrene, ar-Curcumene, alpha-Zingiberene, beta-Bisabolene, Zerumbone

Extraction Methods

  • Steam distillation for essential oil
  • Supercritical CO2 extraction for oleoresin (gingerol + shogaol rich)
  • Hydroethanolic extraction (60-80% ethanol)
  • Acetone extraction for gingerol-rich oleoresin
  • Aqueous decoction/infusion
  • Cold pressing of fresh rhizome
  • Spray drying for standardized extract powder

Synergistic Combinations

  • Part of Trikatu: Shunthi + Maricha + Pippali - universal bioenhancer
  • Lemon + ginger - anti-nausea combination with complementary mechanisms
  • Turmeric (Haridra) - anti-inflammatory synergy
  • Yashtimadhu (licorice) - GI protective combination
  • Honey - traditional anupana for respiratory and digestive conditions
  • Guduchi - immunomodulatory combination for viral infections

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses2

  1. Zhang M, Zhao R, Wang D and others. 2021. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and its bioactive components are potential resources for health beneficial agentsPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 32954562 · doi:10.1002/ptr.6858
  2. Banihani SA. 2019. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on semen qualityAndrologia. PMID 31012134 · doi:10.1111/and.13296

Other clinical studies and reviews9

  1. Ayustaningwarno F, Anjani G, Ayu AM and others. 2024. A critical review of Ginger's (Zingiber officinale) antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activitiesFrontiers in nutrition. PMID 38903613 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1364836
  2. Zhang S, Kou X, Zhao H and others. 2022. Zingiber officinale var. rubrum: Red Ginger's Medicinal UsesMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35164040 · doi:10.3390/molecules27030775
  3. Talebi M, İlgün S, Ebrahimi V and others. 2021. Zingiber officinale ameliorates Alzheimer's disease and Cognitive Impairments: Lessons from preclinical studiesBiomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. PMID 33378982 · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111088
  4. Mao QQ, Xu XY, Cao SY and others. 2019. Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)Foods (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 31151279 · doi:10.3390/foods8060185
  5. Banihani SA. 2018. Ginger and TestosteroneBiomolecules. PMID 30360442 · doi:10.3390/biom8040119
  6. Semwal RB, Semwal DK, Combrinck S and others. 2015. Gingerols and shogaols: Important nutraceutical principles from gingerPhytochemistry. PMID 26228533 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.07.012
  7. 2012. Ginger PMID 38381909
  8. Ali BH, Blunden G, Tanira MO and others. 2008. Some phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): a review of recent researchFood and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association. PMID 17950516 · doi:10.1016/j.fct.2007.09.085
  9. White B. 2007. Ginger: an overviewAmerican family physician. PMID 17575660

Laboratory and animal studies1

  1. Modi M, Modi K. 2026. Ginger Root PMID 33351444

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